UNIVERSITY    OF   CALIFORNIA    PUBLICATIONS. 


COLLEGE  OF  AGRICULTURE. 


AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 


FIELD    OBSERVATIONS 


UPON  THE 


TOLERANCE  OF  THE  SUGAR  BEET 

FOR  ALKALI. 


By  G.  W.  SHAW. 


BULLETIN    No.    169. 

(Berkeley,  Cal.,  May,  1905.) 


SACRAMENTO: 
w.  w.  shannon,    :::::::    superintendent  state  printing. 

1  905. 


BENJAMIN  IDE  WHEELER,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  President  of  the  University. 

EXPERIMENT  STATION  STAFF. 

E.  W.  HILGARD,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  Director  and  Chemist. 

E.  J.  WICKSON,  M.A.,  Horticulturist. 

W.  A.  SETCHELL,  Ph.D.,  Botanist. 

ELWOOD  MEAD,  M.S.,  C.E.,  Irrigation  Engineer. 

C.  W.  WOODWORTH,  M.S.,  Entomologist. 

R.  H.  LOUGHRIDGE,  Ph.D.,  Agricultural  Geologist  and  Soil  Physicist.    {Soils  and  Alkali.) 

M.  E.  JAFFA,  M.S.,  Assistant  Chemist.    (Foods,  Nutrition.) 

G.  W.  SHAW,  M.A.,  Ph.D.,  Assistant  Chemist.    (Starches,  Oils,  Beet-Sugar.) 

GEORGE  E.  COLBY,  M.S.,  Assistant  Chemist.    (Fruits,  Waters,  Insecticides.) 

RALPH  E.  SMITH,  B.S.,  Plant  Pathologist. 

A.  R.  WARD,  B.S.A.,  D.V.M.,  Veterinarian,  Bacteriologist. 

E.  W.  MAJOR,  B.Agr.,  Animal  Industry. 

A.  V.  STUBENRAUCH,  M.S.,  Assistant  Horticulturist,  in  charge  of  Substations. 

E.  H.  TWIGHT,  B.Sc,  Diploma  E.A.M.,    Viticulturist. 

F.  T.  BIOLETTI,  M.S.,    Viticulturist. 

WARREN  T.  CLARKE,  B.S.,  Assistant  Field  Entomologist. 

H.  M.  HALL,  M.S.,  Assistant  Botanist. 

H.  J.  QUAYLE,  A.B.,  Assistant  Entomologist. 

GEORGE  ROBERTS,  M.S.,  Assistant  Chemist,  in  charge  Fertilizer  Control. 

C.  M.  HARING,  D.V.M.,  Assistant  Veterinarian  and  Bacteriologist. 

O.  A.  COLMORE,  B.S.,  Clerk  to  the  Director. 


R.  E.  MANSELL,  Foreman  of  Central  Station  Grounds. 

JOHN  TUOHY,  Patron,  ) 

y  Tulare  Substation,  Tulare. 
JULIUS  FORRER,  Foreman,  ) 

J.  E.  McCOMAS,  Patron,  Pomona, 

J.  W.  MILLS,  Superintendent,  Pomona, 

In  charge  Cooperation  Experiments  of  Southern  California, 

JOHN  H.  BARBER,  Assistant  Superintendent,  Ontario, 

J.  W.  ROPER,  Patron, 

HENRY  WIGHTMAN,  In  charge 


Southern  California  Substation. 


[■   University  Forestry  Station,  Chico. 

ROY  JONES,  Patron,        ) 

V  University  Forestry  Station,  Santa  Monica. 
WM.  SHUTT,  Foreman,    ) 

H.  O.  WOODWORTH,  M.S.,  Foreman  of  Poultry  Station,  Petaluma. 


The  Station  publications  (Reports  and  Bulletins),  so  long  as  avail- 
able, will  be  sent  to  any  citizen  of  the  State  on  application. 


FIELD  OBSERVATIONS  UPON  TOLERANCE  OF  THE 

SUGAR  BEET  FOR  ALKALI. 


By  G.  W.  SHAW. 


While  acting  as  agricultural  expert  for  a  company  interested  in  the 
beet  industry  in  Colorado,  the  attention  of  the  writer  was  frequently 
drawn  to  the  effect  of  the  soluble-salt  constituents  of  the  soil  (alkali) 
upon  the  sugar  beet.  On  account  of  the  fact  that  the  general  condi- 
tions which  obtained  in  the  irrigated  regions  are  especially  favorable 
to  the  production  of  high-grade  beets,  and  since  in  such  regions  there 
are  usually  to  be  found  many  acres  of  land  upon  which  these  sol- 
uble salts  appear  in  greater  or  less  concentration  and  frequently  have 
killed  the  normal  vegetation,  and  especially  because  of  much  apparent 
contradiction  in  the  action  of  these  lands  toward  the  sugar-beet  crop, 
the  writer  became  interested  in  attempting  to  determine  the  limits  of 
tolerance  of  the  sugar  beet  toward  alkali,  and  it  is  as  a  contribution  to 
this  work  that  this  bulletin  is  prepared,  reviewing  certain  work  which 
was  conducted  by  the  writer  in  1900  at  Grand  Junction,  Colorado,  and 
extended  during  the  summer  of  1904  at  Oxnard,  California. 

PREVIOUS    WORK    IN    CALIFORNIA. 

Certain  investigators,  notably  Drs.  Hilgard  and  Loughridge  of  this 
Station,  and  Professors  Buffum  and  Slosson  of  the  Wyoming  Station, 
had  already  conducted  some  interesting  and  suggestive  work  upon  the 
relation  of  alkali  to  sugar  beets.  Dr.  Loughridge,*  in  discussing  the 
toleration  of  alkali  by  sugar  beets  grown  in  three  different  localities, 
shows  it  to  be: 


Sulfates. 

Carbonates. 

Chlorids. 

Nitrates. 

Total. 

No.  1 

No.  2 

8,920 
7,160 
2,360 

3,360 
3,040 
3,360 

3,280 
1,520 
3,280 

1,440 
560 
320 

17,000 
12,280 

No.  3                 

9,320 

From  this  and  other  data  he  concludes  that  the  limit  of  tolerance  for 
sugar  beets,  so  far  as  he  has  observed,  is  as  follows. 

For  sulfates over  7,000  lbs.  per  acref 

For  sodium  chlorid "     1,500    "       " 

For  sodium  carbonate    "    3,000    "       "       " 

For  nitrates "     2,600    "       "       " 

He  considers  chlorids  and  nitrates  even  more  injurious  than  carbon- 
ates and   sulfates.     He  says:J     "The  data  and  observations  recorded 
*     *     prove  beyond  question  that  sugar  beets  of  good  and  even  high 

*  Loughridge,  R.  H. :  California  Experiment  Station  Report,  1895-96,  p.  49. 

f  To  depth  of  three  feet  in  each  case. 

X  Hilgard  and  Loughridge:  California  Experiment  Station  Report,  1894-95,  p.  90. 


* 


4  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT  STATION. 

grade,  both  as  to  sugar  and  purity,  may  be  grown  on  land  containing 
as  much  as  12,000  pounds  of  alkali  salts  per  acre  to  the  depth  of  three 
feet;  provided  that  the  percentage  of  common  salt  does  not  exceed  an 
average  of  0.04  per  cent,  or  1,600  pounds  per  acre."  The  above  figures 
are  "  not  final,  and  good  sugar  beets  might  be  grown  with  a  higher  per 
cent  of  any  one  of  the  salts,  all  other  conditions  being  favorable."  In  a 
later  report*  it  is  stated  that  on  soil  containing  from  7,000  to  12,000 
pounds  of  alkali  (in  three  feet),  chiefly  glauber  salt,  excellent  sugar 
beets  were  grown  at  the  Southern  California  substation,  but  at  from 
18,000  to  20,000  pounds  they  failed  to  produce  a  crop.  Beets  grown  on 
the  former  soil  averaged  14.1  per  cent  of  sugar;  purity,  80  per  cent. 

OBSERVATIONS    IN    COLORADO. 

It  is  regretted  that  the  circumstances  in  Colorado  did  not  permit  a 
more  thorough  examination  of  the  under  soil,  for  in  but  few  cases  was 
it  possible  to  extend  the  work  to  a  greater  depth  than  the  top  foot — 
the  writer  having  removed  to  California  before  the  completion  of  the 
work  contemplated.  However,  the  limited  number  of  analyses  taken, 
together  with  field  observations  and  the  experience  of  certain  farmers 
in  the  application  of  water,  seems  to  indicate  that  in  the  virgin  soil  the 
heavy  per  cent  of  alkali  lies  above  the  fourth  foot,  and  that  the  shallow 
irrigation  practiced  has  brought  the  excessive  amounts  now  in  the  sur- 
face foot  from  that  depth.  This  evil  effect  of  shallow  irrigation  has 
been  augmented  by  underground  seepage  from  the  canals  in  the  locali- 
ties which  are  inclined  to  sandy  loams,  by  an  upward  leaching  of  the 
soil. 

The  following  soluble-salt  determinations  made  upon  soils  producing 
either  good  or  fair  crops  of  beets  indicate  the  condition  of  the  top  foot 
in  such  fields: 


TABLE  I. — Soluble  Salts  in  Colorado  Soil  Producing  Fair  Crops. 


Locality. 

Per  Cent. 

Pounds  per  Acre-foot. 

No 

Chlo- 
rids. 

Carbon-;    Sul  - 
ates.       fates. 

Total. 

Chlo- 
rids. 

Carbon- 
ates. 

Sul- 
fates. 

Total. 

7 
10 
15 
+20 
1!» 
22 
23 
35 

Sec.  13,  T.  1S..R.1  E.__. 
Sec.  19,  T.  1S..R.1  E.._. 
Sec.    9,  T.  1N.,R.  1  E.— 
Sec.    5,  T.  1N.,R.  1  E.__. 
Sec.    5,  T.  IN.,  R.  1  E._._ 
Sec.  16,  T.  1S.,R.  1  E.___ 
Sec.  15,  T.  1  S.,R.  1  E._- 
Sec.  11,  T.  1N.,R.  2  W.  .. 

Average    ..  - 

.023 
.070 
.028 
.036 
.046 
.036 
.019 
.034 

trace 
trace 
.007 
.014 
.005 
.007 
.003 
.004 

.139 
.114 
.032 
.172 
.113 
.159 
.042 
.006 

.162 
.184 
.067 
.222 
.164 
.202 
.064 
.044 

i 

920 
2,800 
1,120 
1,440 
1,840 
1,440 

760 
1,360 

trace 
trace 
280 
560 
200 
280 
120 
160 

5,560 
4,560 
1,280 
6,880 
4,520 
6,360 
1,680 
240 

6,480 
7,360 
2,680 
8,880 
6,560 

S.O.SII 

2,560 
1,760 

.036 

.004        .087 

.127 

1,440           160 

3,480 

5,080 

*  Hilgard,  E.  W. :  California  Experiment  Station  Report,  1897-98,  pp.  129,  142. 
+  An  uncultivated  soil.     Not  included  in  the  average. 


TOLERANCE   OF    THE   SUGAR   BEET   FOR   ALKALI. 


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6  UNIVERSITY   OF    CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT   STATION. 

While  the  yield  in  these  fields  is  not  high  when  considered  independ- 
ently, yet,  as  compared  with  the  remainder  of  the  section  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  seasonal  yield  of  the  region,  it  was  above  the  average, 
being  8.45  tons  per  acre,  and  ranging  from  7.76  tons  to  20.98  tons,  with 
an  average  sugar-content  of  16.03  per  cent  and  purity  of  81.8  per  cent. 

The  indication  here  is  that  while  the  soluble-salt  content  of  these 
soils  is  high,  yet  fair  and  even  good  beets  can  be  produced  even  when 
the  total  alkali-content  reaches  as  high  as  5,000  pounds  in  the  top  foot, 
and  may  perhaps  even  reach  7,000  pounds,  other  conditions  being 
favorable. 

In  other  localities,  however,  the  conditions  were  quite  different,  as 
will  be  seen  in  Table  II,  showing  results  from  fields  failing  to  produce 
crops,  although  the  conditions  of  cultivation,  etc.,  were  as  good  as  in 
the  former  cases. 

Comparing,  now,  the  figures  in  Table  II  with  the  limits  indicated 
above,  estimating  that  the  Grand  Junction  soil  carries  three  fourths  of 
the  alkali  in  the  top  foot,  we  find  that  on  the  ground  where  beets  failed, 
fifteen  out  of  sixteen  samples  carried  in  the  top  foot  much  more  chlorid 
than  the  total  amount  named  above  for  three  feet,  and  that  the  average 
was  ten  times  the  figure  given  above.  In  the  single  case  where  the 
chlorids  were  low  the  sulfates  alone  surpassed  the  9,000-pound  limit 
for  the  top  foot. 

A  just  consideration  of  these  facts  leaves  little  doubt  as  to  the  pri- 
mary causes  of  many  of  the  failures  with  the  beet  crop  on  these  soils, 
although  it  is  but  just  to  say  that  large  areas  in  the  locality  are  well 
adapted  to  the  beet,  and  that  by  a  proper  discrimination  as  to  soils 
these  difficulties  may  be  obviated. 

OBSERVATIONS    AT    OXNARD. 

Opportunity  offered  during  the  season  of  1904  to  extend  observations 
along  the  same  line,  at  Oxnard,  California.  It  may  be  said  at  this 
point  that  the  general  conditions  in  this  locality  for  the  production  of 
sugar  beets,  both  as  to  quality  and  quantity,  are  exceptionally  good, 
and  the  conditions  here  presented  are  for  special  fields  and  are  not 
presented  as  representing  widespread  conditions. 

After  a  preliminary  examination,  certain  fields  were  selected  for 
study,  mainly  because  the  appearance  of  the  beets,  the  general  condi- 
tion of  their  crop,  and  the  appearance  of  the  soil,  so  closely  resembled 
those  observed  at  Grand  Junction,  Colorado. 

Appearance  of  Alkalied  Beets. — As  to  the  crop  in  the  affected  fields, 
the  condition  which -would  first  attract  attention   was  the   "patchy' 
appearance  of  these  fields.     This  was  due  to  a  very  uneven  stand,  and 
to  a  considerable  irregularity  in  the  size  of  the  plants  in   the  various 


TOLERANCE   OF    THE   SUGAR   BEET   FOR   ALKALI. 


parts  of  the  fields.  Almost  equally  striking  was  the  prevalence  of 
chlorosis  of  the  older  leaves  and  a  sprangling  tap-root,  in  some  cases 
entire  fields  being  thus  affected,  but  more  often  only  portions  of  certain 
fields. 

The  beets  of  these  fields  had  a  distinctly  different  appearance  from 
the  so-called  "blighted"  beets,  and  were  not  characterized  by  such  an 
abnormal  development  of  side  roots  as  usually  accompanies  the  former 
conditions.  Nor  was  there  the  characteristic  darkening  of  the  outer 
layer  of  cells  of  the  crown  and  basal  portion  of  the  petioles. 

The  reader  will  better  perceive  the  difference  in  the  appearance  of  a 
typical  "alkalied"  beet  and  one 
affected      with      the      so-called  (, 

"blight,"  by  contrasting  the  fol- 
lowing illustrations: 


Fig.  1.    Beets  stunted  by  alkali. 


Fig.  2.    Beet  affected  by  "blight. 


This  may  be  due  to  several  causes:  (a)  The  alkali  may  retard,  or 
even  prevent  the  germination  of  the  seed;  (6)  it  may  destroy  the  plants 
after  germination,  either  on  account  of  its  concentration  as  a  whole,  or 
of  some  one  of  its  ingredients. 

Difficulty  in  Securing  a  Good  Stand  in  Alkali  Soil. — Often  the  greatest 
difficulty  is  experienced,  in  localities  subject  to  alkali,  in  securing  a 
good  stand  of  beet  plants.  This  usually  is  more  true  of  clay  than  of 
sandy  soils.  An  examination  of  ground  destitute  of  plants  will  nearly 
always  reveal  either  the  presence  of  an  alkali-content  on  the  surface  of 
such  spots,  or  the  peculiar  fine  dust  mulch  so  common  in  such  regions. 
Even  though  the  beets  are  caused  to  germinate  by  irrigation  in  such 
cases,  the  stand  is  invariably  uneven. 

In  such  cases  it  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  density  of  the  soil  solu- 


8 


UNIVERSITY   OF    CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT    STATION. 


tion  has  been  too  great,  thus  destroying  the  vitality  of  the  seed,  or,  in  the 
case  of  germination,  the  plants  died  very  shortly  from  a  constantly 
increasing  density  of  the  soil  solution.  This  would  soon  reach  such  a 
degree  of  density  as  to  so  nearly  equal  that  of  the  plant  that  passage  of 
water  from  the  soil  into  the  plant  was  checked,  and  starvation  from  a 
lack  of  water  results. 

In  an  investigation  as  to  the  strength  of  the  soil  solution  in  the 
Colorado  analyses,  the  writer  found,  for  the  top  foot  of  the  soil,  the 
following  results: 

Percentage  in  Soil  Water. 


Depth, 


Sulfates. 


Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Carbonate). 


Chlorids  (as 
Sodium  Chlorid). 


Total  Alkali. 


For  20%  water 
For  10%  water 


1.86 
3.66 


.14 

.27 


.97 
1.93 


2.97 
5.86 


The  calculation  was  made  for  10  per  cent  and  20  per  cent  because  of 
an  investigation  of  the  amount  of  water  present  in  a  field  with  heavy 
soil  and  made  at  the  time  when  the  plants  were  growing  and  when  they 
were  not.  Two  days  after  irrigation  there  was  found  to  be  from  18  to  20 
per  cent  of  water  in  a  heavy  adobe  soil  on  the  side  of  the  plant  next  to 
the  water  furrow. 

The  soil  in  the  same  field,  when  it  had  not  been  irrigated  for  several 
days,  contained  but  8  to  12  per  cent.  In  the  latter  case  the  plants 
had  not  ceased  growing,  but  were  suffering  from  lack  of  water.  This 
concentration  of  solution,  beyond  question,  had  a  bearing  upon  the 
retardation  or  prevention  of  germination. 


EXPERIMENTS    IN    WYOMING. 

At  the  Wyoming  Experiment  Station,  Prof.  E.  E.  Slosson*  experi- 
mented with  solutions  of  magnesium  and  sodium  sulfate,  sodium  chlo- 
rid, and  sodium  carbonate,  using  seeds  of  corn,  sunflower,  peas,  wheat, 
rye,  buckwheat,  alfalfa,  rape,  and  scirpus.  The  effect  of  sodium  car- 
bonate was  to  corrode  ,  disintegrate,  and  destroy  the  seed,  if  more  than 
small  amounts  were  used;  as  a  result,  only  the  neutral  salts  were  used 
throughout  the  experimentation,  since  sodium  carbonate  entirely  pre- 
vents germination.  In  summing  up  the  results  of  a  long  series  of 
experiments,  he  concludes  that  in  all  cases  the  presence  of  salts  in  solu- 
tion hinders  the  absorption  of  water  in  a  ratio  increasing  with  the 
osmotic  pressure  of  the  solution.  Dilute  solutions  of  alkali  retard 
germination,  stronger  solutions  prevent  it  entirely.     He  used  solutions 

*  Slosson,  E.  E.:  Alkali  Studies    IV,  pp.   1-29,   July,    1899:  Wyoming  Agricultural 
Experiment  Station  Report  f  or  1899. 


TOLERANCE  OF  THE  SUGAR  BEET  FOR  ALKALI.  9 

varying  from  0  to  9  per  cent.  The  retarding  effect  was  greatest  when 
sodium  carbonate  or  sodium  chlorid  was  used.  There  was  a  wide  differ- 
ence shown  in  the  deleterious  effects  of  alkali  upon  the  seeds  of  different 
species. 

Prof.  B.  C.  Buffum  conducted  a  series  of  experiments  quite  like  those 
by  Professor  Slosson.     His  conclusions  are  similar,  and  are  as  follows: 

(1)  "The  presence  of  very  small  amounts  of  sodium  sulfate,  sodium 
chlorid,  magnesium  sulfate,  or  sodium  carbonate  undoubtedly  has  a 
beneficial  effect  on  the  germination  of  seeds  and  the  growth  of  plants. 

(2)  "Of  the  salts  most  abundant  in  the  alkali  of  the  arid  regions, 
those  that  have  the  greatest  detrimental  effects  on  germination,  in  order, 
are:  sodium  carbonate,  sodium  chlorid,  sodium  sulfate,  and  magnesium 
sulfate. 

(3)  "The  retarding  effect  of  a  salt  solution  on  the  germination  of 
seeds  is  in  direct  proportion  to  its  osmotic  pressure,  except  where  other 
factors  enter  in,  such  as  the  caustic  effect  of  sodium  carbonate,  or  where 
solutions  are  very  dilute."  * 

.  The  presence  of  over  one  per  cent  of  sodium  carbonate,  and  over  nine 
per  cent  of  sodium  chlorid  effectually  prevented  the  germination  of 
wheat  and  rye  seeds.  In  a  still  later  joint  report  by  Messrs.  Buffum 
and  Slosson  f  are  given  the  results  of  experiments  conducted  with  the 
growth  of  wheat  and  alfalfa  in  sand  containing,  in  addition  to  a  nutrient 
solution,  amounts  of  sodium  and  potassium  chlorids  and  sulfates  of 
known  osmotic  pressure.  The  greatest  osmotic  pressure  used  was  7.1 
atmospheres — about  equal  to  that  of  a  sodium  chlorid  solution  of  one 
per  cent.  This  not  only  retarded  the  germination  of  the  seeds,  but 
checked  the  development  of  the  plants  after  germination,  producing 
stunted  plants  of  minimuiri  size  as  compared  with  the  check  plants 
grown  in  a  nutrient  solution. 

Since  the  sugar-tjeet  seeds  in  the  fields  at  Grand  Junction  must  have 
been  subjected  at  times  to  soil  solutions  very  much  more  dense  than 
those  used  by  Professors  Slosson  and  Buffum,  what  they  found  to  have 
taken  place  in  pots  used  in  experimentation  must  have  occurred  to  a 
greater  degree  in  the  field.  The  per  cent  of  sodium  carbonate  in  some 
fields  was  sufficient  during  periods  of  minimum  moisture  to  injure  those 
plants  fortunate  enough  to  get  through  when  the  soil  contained  its 
maximum  moisture.  The  average  of  16  to  31  per  cent  of  soluble  salts 
in  the  soil  solution,  even  of  sulfates,  is  sufficient  to  greatly  retard  germi- 
nation, if  not  to  entirely  prevent  it.  The  sodium  chlorid,  on  account 
of  its  higher  osmotic  pressure,  has  a  greater  effect   than  the  sulfates. 

*  Buffum,  B.  C. :  Alkali  Studies  111 :  Wyoming  Agricultural  Station  Report  for  1899. 
t  Buffum,  B.  C,  and  Slosson,  E.  E. :  Alkali  Studies  V:  Wyoming  Agricultural  Experi- 
ment Station  Report  for  1900. 


10 


UNIVERSITY   OF    CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT   STATION. 


The  osmotic  pressure  exerted  by  the  salts  mentioned  are  estimated  by 
Professor  Slosson  as  follows: 

Salt                                                                                        Per  Pressures,  in 

Cent.  Atmospheres. 

Sodium  chlorid 1  7.4 

Sodium  carbonate 1  4.3 

Sodium  sulfate 1  3.9 

Magnesium  sulfate 1  2.8 

Sugar... 1  0.7 

OBSERVATIONS  AT  OXNARD,  CALIFORNIA. 

At  Oxnard  this  unevenness  of  stand  was  marked  in  many  fields, 
typical  cases  being  seen  in  the  illustrations  referring  to  fields  IX,  XI 
and  XII. 


■ 

l 

■ 

TWIWPIr^^^^^^Wr^ 

......  mm.  -  j^^^^Jmff*;--  * .  ■■ 

.     *<■**»-  'J 

?-*£y*  ''%*■■,$'';.,■       ,.    .-.-"%■■*  *  '.***>  ".'** 

'            .r:,                  '                                      '.: 

z   '■  Y^jT' ' *$*■  ':'<*5W«: ' * * 

-X  «  '  ^^  ^     ^     * 

"'       '*'j&h4&^'''  '   "* ■'    *^^^^*^'     ' 

,  p      ' 


Fig.  3.    Field  IX,  showing  both  good  and  poor  beets. 

The  conditions  in  these  fields  were  especially  favorable  for  observations 
upon  the  tolerance  of  the  sugar  beet  for  alkali. 


FIELD    IX,    OXNARD. 

Field  IX  consisted  of  33  acres,  all  planted  to  beets.  The  previous 
crops  grown  on  this  land  had  been — in  1902,  hay,  and  in  1903,  beets, 
which  yielded  9  tons  per  acre,  and  in  this  portion  of  the  field  the  esti- 
mated tonnage  was  3  to  4  tons  only.  The  field  was  exceedingly  spotted  in 
appearance,  not  only  on  account  of  the  uneven  bearing  spots,  which 
occurred  in  larger  or  smaller  places  all  over  the  field,  but  also  on 
account  of  the  apparently  uneven  ripening  of  the  beets.  Wherever  the 
beet  leaves  still  appeared  green,   examination  showed   the  soil  to  be 


TOLERANCE    OF    THE    SUGAR   BEET   FOR   ALKALI. 


11 


moist,  even  to  the  top  of  the  ground;  but  where  the  beets  appeared  ripe 
the  ground  was  dry  and  hard.  The  field  was  winter  plowed  to  a  depth 
of  12  inches,  and  seeded  on  March  5th  in  rows  18  inches  apart;  thinned 
April  16th,  and  harvest  began  August  22d.  On  the  north  and  east  of  the 
field  are  irrigation  ditches,  built  in  1902.  While  previous  to  that  time 
alkali  was  known  to  exist  in  the  locality,  yet  it  did  not  show  in  excess 
until  after  the  ditches  had  been  constructed,  which  suggests  the  possi- 
bility of  seepage  from  that  source,  although  that  was  not  positively 
established. 

Alkali  shows  generally  over  the  field,  appearing  in  apparently  larger 


Fig.  4.    Field  IX,  showing  a  spot  of  beets  growing  in  strong  alkali. 

quantities  in  the  spots  where  no  beets  were  growing.  One  of  the  bare 
spots  (see  Fig.  4)  surrounded  an  island  of  slightly  higher  ground  on  which 
were  growing  beets  of  poor  form,  showing  the  short,  stubby  and  branch- 
ing characteristics  of  strongly  alkali  soils  generally.  This  beet  island, 
surrounded  by  the  perfectly  bare  ground  on  which  there  was  an  efflo- 
rescence of  alkali,  is  well  shown  in  Fig.  4.  By  cross-sectioning  the  field 
at  this  point,  both  as  to  soil  samples  and  beets,  we  were  able  to  pass 
successively  through  fair  beets,  poor  beets,  no  beets,  and  to  also  reverse 
the  order  on  the  other  side  of  the  spot  of  beets.  This,  as  well  as  the 
general  shape  of  the  alkali  spots,  is  shown  in  Fig.  5,  the  location  of 
good  and  poor  beets,  and  the  point  at  which  the  soil  samples  were  taken. 


12 


UNIVERSITY   OF    CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT   STATION. 


Analyses  showing  the  distribution  of  the  soluble  salts  are  here  pre- 
sented: 

TABLE  III.—  Soluble  Salts  in  Field  IX,  Oxnanl. 


Percentage  in  Soil. 

Pounds 

per  Acre. 

Depth. 

CO 
P 

CO 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids  (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

c 

r*- 
P 

> 
P 

CO 

p 

-  1 

1 
1 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids  (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

H 
o 

p 

> 

P 

No.  IX— 9. 

First  foot  _   ...       -  .     - 

.2416 

.4328 

none 
none 

.0552 
.1104 

.2968 
.5432 

9,680 
17,320 

none 
none 

2,200 
4J400 

11,880 

Second  foot 

21,720 

Average  and  total.-. 

.3372 

none 

.0828 

.4200 

27.000 

none 

6,600 

33,600 

No.  IX— 10. 
Firstfoot 

.5277 
.3154 

none 
none 

.2227 
.1574 

.7504 

.4728 

21,108 
12,600 

none 
none 

8,908 
6,280 

30,016 

Second  foot _  . 

18,880 

Average  and  total  ... 

.4215 

none 

.1901 

.6116 

33,708 

none 

15,188 

18,896 

No.  IX— 11. 
Firstfoot 

.4814 
.4213 

none 
none 

• 

.1778 
.2227 

.6592 
.6440 

.6515 

19,240 
16,840 

none 
none 

none 

7,120 
8,920 

26,360 

Second  foot  _.     

25,760 

Average  and  total. ._ 

.4513 

none 

.2002 

36,080 

16,040 

52,120 

No.  IX— 12. 
Firstfoot         

.2532 
.4672 

none 
none 

.1196 

.0288 

.3728 
.4960 

10,128 
18,680 

none 
none 

4,784 
1,160 

14,912 

Second  foot  . .          ..  . 

19,840 

Average  and  total... 

.3602 

none 

.0712 

.4344 

28,808 

none 

5,944 

34,752 

No.  IX— 13. 

First  foot  .   _..  .   

.1789 
.2715 

.010 
.010 

.1211 
.1957 

.3100 
.4772 

7,160 

10,880 

400 
400 

4,840 
7,840 

12,400 

Second  foot . 

19,120 

Average  and  total. .. 

.2252 

.010 

.1584 

.3936 

is.  o-lo 

800 

12,680 

31,520 

No.  IX— 14. 
Firstfoot 

.1891 
.2257 

.0067 
.0067 

.0562 
.0652 

.2520 
.2976 

7,560 
9,040 

280 
280 

2,240 
2,600 

10,080 

Second  foot 

11,920 

Average  and  total. ._ 

.2074 

.0067 

.0607 

.2748 

16,600 

560 

4,840 

22,000 

No.  IX— 15. 
Firstfoot 

.0825 
.1284 

.0033 
.0050 

.0562 
.0746 

.1420 

.2080 

3,320 
5,120 

120 
200 

2,240 
3,000 

5,680 

Second  foot    . 

8,320 

Average  and  total... 

.1054 

.0041 

.0654 

.1699 

8,440 

320 

5,240 

14,000 

Discussion. — In  Fig.  7,  showing  the  beets  from  the  respective  points  of 
sampling,  may  be  seen  the  characteristic  appearance  of  "alkalied  beets." 
In  position  9  the  beets  in  most  cases  were  fair  in  size,  yet  now  and  then 
would  be  shown  the  "  scraggly  "  tendency  of  beets  growing  in  strong 
alkali  soils,  which  in  positions  10  and  14  is  shown  to  the  greatest  degree. 


TOLERANCE  OF  THE  SUGAR  BEET  FOR  ALKALI. 


13 


In  position  15  the  beets  were  apparently  about  the  same  as  those  at  9, 
which  is  also  shown  in  the  illustration.  At  12  the  beets  were  better 
than  at  either  10  or  14,  but  distinctly  poorer  than  at  9  and  15.  It  will 
be  noted  that  the  beets  at  12  presented  more  fully  the  alkali  character- 


Fig.  5.    Locations  in  Field  IX  where  samples  were  taken. 


Fig.  6.    Alkali  curves  for  Field  IX. 

istics  than  do  either  9  or  15.     This  appearance  and  condition  are  par- 
ticularly interesting  when  taken  in  connection  with  the  curves  showing 
the  alkali  conditions  which  obtained  at  the  points  of  sampling  (see 
Fig.  6). 
It  will  be  noted  from   the  curves  that  as  the  chlorid  content   of  the 


14 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT    STATION. 


<HV 


/Vo   JBeets 


A/o  Beets. 

9-u 


<?-/Q 


Fig.  7.  Beets  growing  on 
the  stations  indicated 
in  Fig.  6. 


soil  approaches  .20  per  cent,  the  beets  inva- 
riably become  either  very  much  stunted  in 
size  or  have  been  entirely  destroyed  from  the 
effects  of  the  alkali.  This  is  especially  noticed 
at  points  10,  11,  and  13,  Avhile  at  12  the  beets 
become  measurably  better  in  size,  but  on  ac- 
count of  their  poor  form  must  still  be  classed 
as  poor  beets.  Here  also  the  chlorid  content 
of  the  soil  has  decidedly  decreased.  This  is 
also  true  of  station  14.  If  we  are  to  draw  any 
lesson  from  the  data  here  presented  it  would 
be  the  comparatively  limited  effect  which  the 
sulfates  have  upon  the  beets,  and  the  great 
sensitiveness  of  the  beet  to  the  soluble  chlorids. 
These  results  are  verified  by  results  secured 
by  sampling  at  right  angles  to  the  former  cross- 
section  and  including  samples  18*  12,  16,  and 
19.  The  results  of  which  analyses  show  the 
following  percentage : 


Station         .   .                     ______ 

18. 

No 

beets. 

12. 
Poor 

beets. 

16. 

Fair 
beets. 

19. 

Condition  of  beets.     .       .. - 

Good 
beets. 

Sulfates 

Carbonates 

.4063 
.0092 
.1957 

.3602 
0000 
.0742 

.2010 
.0044 
.0746 

.2629 
.0101 

Chlorids __     . 

.0419 

Total  

.6112 

.4344 

.2800 

.3149 

While  the  time  at  which  the  work  here  re- 
ported was  necessarily  done  rendered  it  general- 
ly impossible  to  secure  extended  data  as  to  the 
sugar-content  on  the  several  tracts,  it  may  be 
said  that  the  beets  on  plat  IX  ranged  from  17 
to  22  per  cent  sugar  in  the  beet. 

FIELD    XI,    OXNARD. 

In  Field  XI  the  conditions  w7ere  much  the 
same  as  in  the  former  case,  although,  owing 
to  some  subirrigation,  the  beets,  wherever  grow- 
ing, were  of  much  better  size.  The  field  had 
been  in  beets  for  the  two  years  preceding 
and  had  produced  good  crops  each  year.  This 
field  lies  alongside  the  waste  ditch  from  the 
factorv,  and  is  somewhat  lower  than  the  ditch, 
which  fact  has  apparently  affected  the  field  by 


TOLERANCE    OF    THE    SUGAR    BEET    FOR   ALKALI. 


15 


an  upward  leaching  of  the  soil,  bringing  much  alkali  to  the  top.  While 
there  were  19  acres  of  beets  originally  planted  in  this  field,  but  5  acres 
were  actually  harvested,  the  beets  carrying  a  sugar-content  of  14.7  per 


Fig.  8.    General  view  of  Field  XI. 


Fig.  9.    Field  XI,  looking  in  opposite  direction. 


cent,  and  a  purity  of  78.1.  In  taking  the  soil  samples  water  was  found 
at  points  1  and  2  at  a  depth  of  about  12  inches,  while  at  point  1  the 
soil  auger  could  be  easily  pressed  to  a  depth  of  8  feet,  on  account  of  the 
large  amount  of  water  in  the  soil. 


16 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT    STATION. 


The  illustrations  on  page  15  show  the  appearance  of  Field  XI  at 
the  time  of  sampling,  Fig.  8  looking  away  from  the  waste  ditch  from 
point  6  in  the  line  drawing  (Fig.  10),  while  Fig.  9  reverses  the  view. 

Fig.  10  indicates  the  distribution  of  the  beets  in  the  field,  showing, 
the  stations  at  which  the  soil  and  beet  samples  were  selected,  and  in 
the  tables  herewith  presented  are  stated  the  alkali  determinations  for 
the  several  indicated  stations. 


Fig.  10.    Location  of  samples  for  analysis. 


TABLE  IV.— Soluble  Salts  in  Field  XI,  Oxnard. 


Percentage  in  Soil. 

Pounds  per  Acre. 

Depth. 

W 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids  (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

-3 

o 

> 

: 

GO 

<r+ 
.-D 
CD 

; 
; 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids  (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

o 

3" 

> 

CO 

No.  XI— 1. 

First  foot  _   . 

.4764 
.0990 

trace 
trace 

.0276 
.0186 

.02131 

.5040 
.1176 

19,040 
3,960 

trace 
trace 

1,120 

760 

20,160 

Second  foot    .. 

4,720 

Average  and  total... 

.2877 

trace 

.3108 

23,000 

trace 

1,880 

24,880 

No.  XI-2. 

First  foot 

Second  foot J 

.1976 
.2152 

traee 
trace 

.0552 
.0552 

.2528 
.2704 

.2616 

7,920 
8,600 

trace 
trace 

2,200 
2,200 

10,120 
10,800 

Average  and  total  ... 

.2064 

trace 

.0552 

16,520 

trace 

4,400 

20,920 

TOLERANCE    OF    THE   SUGAR   BEET    FOR   ALKALI. 


17 


TABLE  IV.— Soluble  Salts  in  Field  XI,  Oxnard— Continued. 


Depth. 


No.  XI-  3. 

Firstfoot 

Second  foot 

Average  and  total... 

No.  XI— 4. 

Firstfoot 

Second  foot 

Average  and  total... 

No.  XI— 5. 

Average  and  total,  2  ft. 

No.  XI— 6. 

Firstfoot 

Second  foot 

Average  and  total.. _ 


Percentage  in  Soil. 


CO 

O 

0 

creep 

i — i 

n  O  *-i. 

bon 
diu 
mat 

CO 

£2£. 

i        a> 

!     0»> 

P  O 

J-j  P 

■     CO 

o 


£3 


H 

o 

p 

b 
p 


.1364 
.1684 


.1524 


.2820 
.2960 


.2890 


.013 


.3108 
.5608 


.4358 


trace 
trace 


trace 


trace 
trace 


trace 


trace 


trace 
trace 


trace 


.0828 
.0644 


.0736 


.1012 
.4640 


.2820 


.041 


.1676 

.2784 


.2230 


.2192 

.2328 


.2260 


.3832 
.7600 


.5710 


.054 


.4784 
.8392 


.6588 


Pounds  per  Acre. 


5,440 
6,720 


12,160 


11,280 
11,840 


o 

creep 

W   P     c-t- 

;     Ore 

;  Sp 

'    co 


mG 

H 

oee=r 

o 

— 

O  r-"-! 

► 

w 

1                CD 

X 

23,120 


1,040 


12,432 
22,440 


34,872 


trace 
trace 


3,320 
2,560 


trace 


5,880 


trace       4,040 
trace  I   18,560 


trace 


trace 


22,600 


3,280 


trace 
trace 


trace 


6,704 
11,120 


17,824 


8,760 
9,320 

18,080 


15,320 
30,400 


45,720 


4,320 


19,136 
33,560 


52,61)6 


Discussion. — Collecting  the  averages  from  the  tables  and  developing 
the  curve  for  the  purpose  of  comparison,  we  have  the  following: 


Fig.  11.     Alkali  curve,  Field  XL 


18 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT    STATION. 


Mo   .Beds. 


No  JZeets 
U=± 


J 


Fig.  12.    Beets  from  stations 
indicated  in  Fig.  10. 


In  this  location  it  will  be  noted  that  good 
beets  alternate  with  no  beets.  As  in  the  former 
case,  there  appears  to  be  no  connection  which 
one  can  trace  between  the  relation  of  good 
beets  to  the  percentage  of  either  total  alkali 
or  sulfate  within  the  limits  here  shown,  except 
as  influenced  by  the  chlorids.  The  fact  that 
good  beets  occurred  at  station  1  with  compara- 
tively high  total  alkali,  while  at  station  2  no 
beets  were  growing,  is  doubtless  because  of  the 
increase  in  the  chlorids  as  shown  in  the  curve. 

Further,  the  distribution  of  the  alkali  was 
far  different  at  the  two  stations,  which  un- 
doubtedly had  much  to  do  with  the  occur- 
rence of  beets  at  the  one  and  their  failure  at 
the  other  station.  By  referring  to  the  tabular 
presentation  of  analyses  it  will  be  observed 
that  at  station  1  practically  all  the  alkali  was 
contained  in  the  top  foot,  and  thus  largely 
removed  from  the  more  delicate  feeding  roots 
of  the  beet,  which  extend  very  deep  into  the 
soil,  as  will  be  seen  in  Fig.  13. 

Influence  of  Distribution  of  Salts. — At  station 
2,  however,  the  concentration  was  essentially 
the  same  in  the  second  foot  as  in  the  first,  thus 
bringing  the  salts  within  the  immediate  reach 
of  these  delicate  feeders  of  the  plant,  a  fact 
which  indicates  that  not  only  is  the  total  quan- 
tity of  an  alkali  constituent  a  factor,  but  also, 
a  ud  perhaps  even  more  than  this,  the  distribu- 
tion of  salt  in  the  soil*  which  also  may  explain 
why  one  may  often  find  perfectly  bare  spots  in 
a  field  known  to  be  tainted  with  alkali,  even 
though  there  is  but  little  if  any  alkali  appear- 
ing near  the  surface.  Such  an  occurrence  may 
also  explain  the  loss  of  a  crop  in  a  similar 
field,  even  though  the  seed  may  have  germi- 
nated well  and  a  good  stand  of  beets  have  been 
obtained.  Whereas  with  a  concentration  of 
the  bulk  of  alkali  near  the  surface  the  germina- 
tion of  the  seed  would  be  poorer  from  the 
destruction  of  the  germ. 

*See  also  Report  of  California  Experiment  Station, 
1894,  p.  81. 


TOLERANCE  OF  THE  SUGAR  BEET  FOR  ALKALI. 


19 


FIELD    IV,    OXNARD. 

The  influence  of  the  distribution  of  salts  around  the  feeding  roots  of 
the  beet  also  has  illustration  in  Field  IV,  confirming  the  idea  just  pre- 
sented, particularly  as  to  chlorids.  This  was  a  field  of  8  acres,  in  which 
the  seed-bed  was  well  prepared  and  the  stand  secured  was  good.     The 


"    *d$h@%  ^"    _____  -■  'MUSS rs&i' 

a 

5H    '®><         >BM_k__<r  *"%H       ^w 

<"■'•         /   ''      ;           '''-'              ,'■    '■''""             '■'                                                ■       ■'■•' 

Fig.  13.     Root  System  of  Sugar  Beet,  showing  necessity  of  deep 
preparation  of  soil. 

field  was  irrigated  previous  to  planting  and  had  also  been  irrigated  in 
shallow  furrows  subsequent  to  planting.  The  land  north,  with  a  slope 
toward  this  field,  had  been  much  irrigated,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a 
marked  tendency  for  alkali  to  accumulate  on  this  field.  The  particular 
thing  to  attract  one's  attention  was  the  irregular  size  of  the  beets.     On 


20 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT    STATION. 


the  lower  spots,  where  the  water  seemed  to  have  stood  at  the  time  of 
irrigation,  the  beets  were  generally  good,  but  on  the  ridges  were  found 
universally  the  characteristic  "alkalied"  beet,  small,  sprangly,  and 
stubby.  The  general  cultivation  of  the  field  had  been  poor,  the  ground 
being  very  hard  as  a  result  of  flooding  the  land  and  failing  to  properly 
work  the  soil  thereafter. 

Sample  1,  indicated  in  the  table  below,  is  a  composite  one  from  three 
different  places  where  beets  are  good,  while  sample  2  is  a  composite  one 
taken  in  the  same  manner  from  contiguous  ridges  on  which  the  beets 
were  decidedly  poor. 

TABLE  V.— Soluble  Salts  in  Field  IV,  Oxnard. 


Percentage  in  Soil. 

Pounds  per  Acre. 

Depth. 

P 

(t> 

CO 
i 

«  i 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids     (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

o 

P 

> 

P 

l— ' 

1 

i — ' 
p 

O 

CO 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids     (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

0 

E 
> 

P 

No.  IV— 1. 
Firstfoot        

.1980 
.0269 
.0196 

■ 

.0084 
.0041 
.0034 

.1120 
.0930 

.0930 

.3184 
.1240 
.1160 

7,920 
1,080 

780 

320 
160 
120 

4,480        Y>-  720 

Second  foot  _         - 

3,720  !       4,960 
3,720         4fi9.0 

Third  foot 

Av'ge  and  total,  2  ft.. 
Av'ge  and  total,  3  ft.. 

.1124 
.0815 

.0062 
.0053 

.1025 
.0993 

.2211 
.1861 

9,000 
9,780 

480 
600 

8,200 
11,920 

17,680 
22,300 

No.  IV— 2. 
Firstfoot 

.2866 
.2627 

.2387 

.0097 
.0097 
.0084 

.2237 
.2516 
.2509 

.5200 
.5240 
.4960 

11,480 
10,520 

9,480 

22,000 
31,480 

360 
360 
320 

8,960  1     20,800 
10,080  !     20,960 
10,040  1     19,840 

Second  foot  _       ._ 

Third  foot 

Av'ge  and  total,  2  ft. . 
Av'ge  and  total,  3  ft._ 

.2746 
.2627 

.0097 
.0092 

.2376 
.2421 

.5219 
.5140 

720 
1,040 

19,040  |     41,760 
29,080       61,600 

The  sugar-content  of  beets  from  the  two  points  was  as  follows 


Sample  No.  1 
Sample  No.  2 


Sugar  in       Pnritv 
Juice. 


grams. 
'450.0 

218.0 


per  cent. 
17.0 
19.0 


so.  2 
75.9 


If  we  consider  these  now  in  the  light  of  previous  observations  as  to 
the  tolerance  of  beets  for  the  several  salts,  there  would  seem  little 
doubt  as  to  the  cause  of  the  poor  condition  of  the  beets  on  the  high 
places.  On  account  of  the  more  rapid  evaporation  from  these  high 
places  the  alkali  has  doubtless  been  drawn  there  until  it  has  passed 
the  tolerance  of  the  beet. 

Examining  these  results  we  find  that  in  station   1,  where   the  beets 


TOLERANCE  OF  THE  SUGAR  BEET  FOR  ALKALI.  21 

were  good,  the  chlorids  are  below  .15  per  cent,  but  in  station  2  they 
exceed  .20  per  cent,  which  is  the  same  condition  which  has  held  in  each 
of  the  other  cases  discussed.  No  consideration  need  here  be  given  to 
the  sulfates,  since  they  are  much  below  the  amount  found  in  the  former 
cases  in  which  the  chlorids  are  about  the  same,  and  in  some  of  the 
former  cases  the  sulfates  even  exceed  the  amount  here.  Except  so  far 
as  it  may  have  had  a  retarding  effect  upon  the  crop  generally,  it  needs 
no  consideration. 

It  will  further  be  noted  that  in  the  case  of  station  IV-2  the  concen- 
tration of  the  alkali  is  even  greater  in  the  second  and  third  foot  than 
in  the  top,  which  alone  in  this  case  would  perhaps  be  sufficient  to  prove 
destructive  to  the  crop  with  even  much  smaller  percentage  than  is  here 
shown. 

The  stronger  alkali  upon  the  ridges  was  doubtless  due  to  the  more 
rapid  evaporation  of  moisture  from  these  spots,  owing  to  greater  surface 
exposure,  which  in  turn  would  tend  to  draw  the  alkali  salts  to  them — 
a  condition  usually  noticeable  in  imperfectly  leveled  fields  carrying 
large  amounts  of  soluble  salts. 

A  further  point  worthy  of  observation  is  the  fact  that  on  the  low 
spots  the  alkali  is  concentrated  in  the  top-foot,  and  is  thus  removed 
from  the  great  mass  of  feeding-roots  of  the  beet,  thus  interfering  less 
with  its  nutrition.  In  the  soil  from  the  high  places  the  alkali  is  more 
evenly  distributed  through  the  three  feet,  and  is  in  each  foot  much 
above  the  limit  named  by  other  investigators.  A  further  point  of 
importance  indicated  is,  that  the  tolerance  of  the  beet  for  chlorids  is 
considerably  higher  than  observed  by  Dr.  Hilgard,  for  we  find  fair  beets 
here  growing  in  an  average  of  4,000  pounds  of  chlorid  per  acre-foot. 

That  the  poorer  beets  upon  the  higher  places  were  not  due  to  a  too- 
limited  water-content,  resulting  from  greater  exposure,  is  shown  from 
the  table  giving  the  water-content  of  the  two  locations,  in  which  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  higher  spots  had  considerably  higher  water-content, 
which  fact  was  also  borne  out  by  observations  in  the  field: 

Water-content  of  Soil  Samples  from  Field  IV. 

Low  Spots.  High  Spots. 

Top  foot ".     10.38  16.58 

Second  foot 15.50  18.91 

Third  foot 20.38  18.33 

This  increase  of  moisture  is  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  increased 
alkali,  which  always  tends  to  render  the  soils  more  retentive  of  mois- 
ture. This  extra  amount  of  moisture,  however,  is  scarcely  available  for 
the  plant,  and  the  available  water  for  the  plant  may  even  be  less,  on 
account  of  the  high  concentration  of  the  soil  solution,  due  to  the 
large  quantity  of  alkali  present.  Thus  we  may  even  find  the  plant 
actually  starving  in  the  midst  of  plenty,  on  account  of  an  inability 
to  secure  sufficient  nourishment  from  such  concentrated  solutions. 


.O 

u 
O 
O 


O 

o 

be 

bo 


X 

IB 


O 


TOLERANCE   OF    THE   SUGAR   BEET   FOR   ALKALI.  23 

FIELD    XII,    OXNARD. 

This  field  was  selected  for  study  because  of  the  fact  that  in  the  midst 
of  the  mother  beets  which  were  growing  thereon  occurred  a  spot  of 
comparatively  regular  shape,  as  will  be  seen  in  Fig.  14.  The  general 
appearance  of  the  field,  and  especially  of  the  spot  of  "  alkalied"  beets, 
is  shown  in  Figs.  14  and  15,  in  the  former  of  which  on  the  right,  the 
generally  stunted  condition  of  the  beets  is  well  shown,  while  on  the 
left  the  beets  are  good.  In  the  latter  the  same  thing  is  shown  as  to 
the  foreground  as  compared  with  the  background,  the  line  of  demarca- 
tion between  good  and  poor  beets  being  clearly  shown  in  both  illus- 
trations. 


Good.       ~P><?P.t<<i 


•X. 


Good 


E&z&l 


Gonri. 


•  6 


Good  Moihar  P><?.<z,tJ 


Fig.  15.    Alkali  spot  on  Field  XII,  showing  where  samples  were  taken. 

In  this  field  a  good  stand  was  secured,  as  shown  in  the  illustrations,, 
but  after  a  few  weeks  the  beets  upon  this  spot  ceased  to  grow.  The  con- 
dition of  the  plants  is  very  typical  of  "alkalied"  beets.  The  contrast 
of  these  beets  with  those  taken  from  the  other  stations  on  the  same- 
plat  is  shown  in  Fig.  14. 

On  this  spot  we  failed  to  find  a  single  good  beet;  but  entirely  sur- 
rounding it  were  beets  of  both  good  form  and  size  (see  XII,  7,  13,  and 
14),  although  in  many  places  could  be  found  the  tendency  to  "sprangle." 
(XII,  6.) 

Alkali  determinations  were  made  upon  the  soils  from  the  stations- 
indicated  in  Fig.  15,  with  the  following  results: 


24 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT    STATION. 


TABLE  VI.— Soluble  Salts 

in  Field  XII,  Oxnard. 

• 

Percentage  in  Soil. 

Pounds 

per  Acre. 

Depth. 

CO 

0 

p— ' 
?o 

c+ 
(0 

CO 

i 
i 

Carbonates(as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate) 

Chlorids  (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

t 

CO 

i— i 
>-» 
go 

r+ 

CD 

CO 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)      

Chlorids  (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid)...- 

o 

EC 

> 

No.  XII— 4. 
Firstfoot 

.3543 

.2810 

trace 
trace 

.1949 

.1870 

.1909 

.5492 
.4680 

.5086 

14,160 
11,240 

trace 
trace 

7,800 
7,480 

21,960 
18,720 

Second  foot ._ 

Average  and  total. __ 

.3177 

trace 

25,400 

trace 

15,280 

40,680 

No.  XII-6. 
Firstfoot  

.6048 
.5220 

.008 
trace 

.1104 
.1196 

.7160 
.6416 

24,200 
20,880 

45,080 

320 

4,400 
4,760 

28,920 
25,640 

Second  foot . 

Average  and  total. ._ 

.5634 

.004 

.1150 

.6724 

320 

9,160 

54,560 

No.  XII. 

Station    13  —  Average 
for  2  feet          .. 

.5648 
.4316 

.008 
.008 

.1288 
.0920 

< 

.6944 
.5244 

45,200 
16,280 

640 

640 

10,320 
7,360 

56,160 
40,560 

Station    14  —  Average 
for  2  feet  _  

No.  XII— 7. 
First  foot     .     ______' 

.9816 
.7402 

.008 
trace 

.0736 
.1104 

1.0632 
.8506 

39,264 
29,600 

320 
trace 

2,944 
4,400 

42,528 

Second  foot . 

34,000 

Average  and  total. .. 

.8609 

.004 

.0920 

.9568 

68,864 

320 

7,344 

76,528 

No.  XII— 5. 
Firstfoot 

.1535 
.2670 

trace 
trace 

.1949 
.1870 

.3484 
.4540 

6,140 
10,680 

trace 
trace 

7,800 
7,480 

13,940 
18,160 

Second  foot..        

Average  and  total.. . 

.2103 

trace 

.1909 

.4012 

16,820 

trace 

15,280 

32,100 

No.  XII— 1. 
Firstfoot 

.3193 
.3416 

trace 
trace 

.2227 
.2320 

.5420 
.5736 

12,760 
13,680 

trace 
trace 

8,920 
9,280 

21,680 

Second  foot  .        _  __  _ 

23,960 

Average  and  total. __ 

.3304 

trace 

.2274 

.5578 

26,440 

trace 

18,200 

45,640 

Discussion. — This  spot  is  an  especially  good  illustration  of  the  limits  of 
alkali  tolerance  by  the  sugar  beet  on  account  of  the  clear  line  of  demar- 
cation between  good  and  poor  beets  under  otherwise  uniform  conditions. 
That  the  beet  will  tolerate  a  large  total  alkali,  provided  the  preponder- 
ance of  the  salts  present  is  in  the  form  of  sulfates,  is  clearly  shown  in 
the  curves  shown  in  Fig.  16,  the  total  at  station  7  being  nearly  1  per 
cent,  0.86  of  which  is  composed  of  sulfates.  Under  these  conditions 
the  field  was  producing  beets  of  at  least  fair  size,  of  good  sugar-content, 
and  of  good  form.  These  beets  continued  as  far  as  station  5,  when  the 
condition  suddenly  changed,  and  small,  stunted,  scraggly  beets,  charac- 
teristic of  this  and  other  alkali  spots  of  the  same  locality,  occurred,  and 


TOLERANCE  OF  THE  SUGAR  BEET  FOR  ALKALI. 


25 


this  notwithstanding  the  total  alkali  and  sulfates  have  decreased  to  .40 
per  cent  and  .21  per  cent,  respectively.  Looking  for  the  cause  of  this 
stunted  condition  we  note  that  there  has  been  a  rise  in  chlorid  content 
to  approximately  .20  per  cent  at  the  spot  where  the  beets  become 
markedly  poor.  Further,  we  note  that  the  condition  remains  the  same 
so  long  as  the  chlorid  content  of  the  soil  remains  above   .20  per  cent? 


0 
)0 

i 

r 

r 

4 

_£ 

% 

I 

\fl(Kt 

4P> 

fxta 

F 

^onr 

l^p.i 

*f,sS 

_&_oad 

_Eteet<i. 

.60 
SO 
40 

r 

m 
8 

1 

v=- 

Ss 

o 

\ 

»      \ 

It 

4 

/ 

V4 

■^"^ 

"*/! 

9  /> 

A>0 

i 

:hjd 

;0, 

JO 
1 

1 

Fig.  16.    Alkali  curve  for  Field  XII. 


Fig.  17.    Beets  from  Field  XII. 

but  upon  falling  below  this  point  at  station  4  the  beets  at  once  improve 
and  become  of  normal  form,  size,  etc.  (witness  Fig.  17,  XII,  6,  13,  and 
14),  notwithstanding  the  sulfates  have  increased  from  .32  per  cent  at  4 
to  .56  per  cent  at  6. 

From  this  examination  it  would  appear  that  on  a  sandy  loam  soil, 
under  proper  conditions  of  culture,  we  may  expect  beets  to  thrive  when 
the  total  alkali  reaches  as  high  as   1  per  cent,  provided  the  chlorids  do 


26 


UNIVERSITY   OF    CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT    STATION. 


not  exceed  .20  per  cent.  Had  the  sulfates  remained  as  high  as  '.85  per 
<cent,  and  the  chlorids  increased  as  shown,  it  is  probable  that  the  area 
of  good  beets  would  have  been  lessened,  and  the  limit  of  chlorids  been 
somewhere  from  .15  to  .20  per  cent.  The  effect  of  the  sulfates  appears 
to  be  very  mild,  however,  as  at  station  5  with  sulfates  as  low  as  .21  per 
€ent  the  chlorid  limit  is  .19  per  cent,  and  it  is  essentially  the  same  at 
station  4,  where  the  sulfates  have  risen  to  .32  per  cent,  or  more  than 
doubled.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  case  in  which  the  effect  of  the 
chlorids  is  more  clearly  shown  than  here,  the  indication  being  that  in 
the  absence  of  carbonates,  chlorids  are  the  governing  factor  and  must 
he  below  .20  per  cent  if  we  would  expect  success  in  the  production  of 
beets. 


FIELDS    I    AND    II,    OXNARD. 


The  attention  of  the  writer  was  called  to  two  different  fields  in  the 
same  general  region.  It  was  said  by  those  familiar  with  the  conditions 
covering  several  years,  that  on  No.  I  it  was  impossible  to  bring  a  crop 
of  beets  to  maturity,  even  though  under  very  favorable  conditions  a 
stand  might  be  secured.  Barley  had  also  failed  upon  this  soil,  although 
the  seed  had  germinated  and  the  plants  lived  for  a  short  time.  On 
Field  No.  II  there  had  been  some  difficulty  in  securing  a  stand,  but  when 
a,  stand  was  once  secured  the  beets  grew  very  well.  A  comparison  of 
the  two  soils  does  not  reveal  any  great  difference  in  physical  character- 
istics, although  No.  I  may  carry  a  little  more  clay  than  No.  II,  but  not 
enough  to  make  it  evident  to  the  eye.  A  comparison  of  the  soluble 
salts,  however,  shows  a  very  strong  contrast. 


TABLE  VI.— Fields  Nos.  land  II,  Oxnard. 


Depth— 2  ft. 


Field  No.    I 
Field  No.  II. 


Percentage  in  Soil. 


o 

CD    ^    ^ 
P-S    £B 


!±PiO 

D.Sa 

£jp    GO 


.3004       trace 
.1456  !    none 


.3340 
.1020 


o 


SB 


.6344 
.2476 


Pounds  per  Acre. 

cc 

a 

o 

d 

O'CCSS 

ccps- 

O  O  T 

h-O     H- 

SB 
e-t- 

oon 
din 
nat 

orids 
dium 
ilorid 

Ui 

£B£ 

o 

^■^ 

1    Ooj 

i 

,      -i  SB 

;    i  w 

SB 

24,000 

trace 

26,720 

11,680 

none 

8,160 

o 


7t 

SB 


50,720 
19,840 


While  it  does  not  appear  as  to  why  there  should  be  difficulty  in  secur- 
ing a  reasonable  stand  upon  this  field,  if  we  accept  the  evidence  previ- 
ously presented  as  to  the  apparent  limits  of  chlorids,  we  certainly  find 
a  satisfactory  answer  as  to  why  the  crop  does  not  succeed  upon  Field 
No.  I,  on  which  the  chlorids  are  a  third  higher  than  the  limiting  num- 
ber on  the  locations  already  discussed.  Further,  the  results  add  still 
stronger  evidence  for  the  contention  that  it  is  unsafe  to  attempt  to  grow 


TOLERANCE  OF  THE  SUGAR  BEET  FOR  ALKALI. 


27 


Fig.  18.    Good  beets  from  Field  IV. 


sugar  beets  upon  land  carrying  .20  per  cent  or  over  of  common  salt, 
and  on  soils  carrying  even  .15  per  cent  there  will  be  great  uncertainty 
of  a  crop,  unless 
other  conditions 
are  very  perfect. 

The     fact     that 
these  results  were 
obtained  on  these 
soils  under  the  con- 
ditions       existing 
this   year     is    not 
necessarily  conclu- 
sive that  the  same 
soils   under  some- 
what different  con- 
ditions   of     treat- 
ment   or    seasonal 
moisture  might  not 
produce  good  beets 
over    their    entire  area;  but 
it  is  suggestive  that  a  knowl- 
edge  of   the    conditions  pre- 
vious to  planting  upon  a  soil 
might   save  considerable  ex- 
pense to  both  the  farmer  and 
the    company.        With     the 
rapid    methods    of     analysis 
which  can  now  be  employed 
in  making   approximate  de- 
terminations of  the  alkali  in 
soils  over  considerable  areas, 
there  would  appear  no  reason 
for  continuing  to  plant  beets 
upon  soils  entirely  unsuited, 
or   even   precarious    for   the 
crop.     It  is  usually  true  that 
there  are  but  comparatively 
few   fields    so    affected   with 
alkali  as  to  make  them  un- 
certain   for    crops    from  this 
standpoint,  and  these  doubt- 

.,«■;,  -,  t  •!      -,        .  Fig.  19.    Good  beets  from  Field  X. 

ml  fields  could  easily  be  in- 
vestigated from  the  standpoint  of  their  soluble  salts  and  planting  done 
in    accordance  with    the  results    obtained   by  such    examination.      It 


28 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT    STATION. 


suggests  a  closer  attention  to  the  field  of  agricultural  chemistry  by  the 
sugar  companies  operating  in  the  arid  regions  especially.  The  writer 
believes  that  far  too  great  attention  is  paid  to  the  factory  side  of  the 
sugar  industry  as  compared  with  the  agricultural,  and  that  the  highest 
results  can  never  be  attained,  especially  in  the  arid  region,  until 
rational  attention  be  given  to  agricultural  chemistry  in  connection  with 
the  field  operations. 

Good  Beets  Frequently  Grow  in  Strong  Alkali  Soil. — One  who  has  had 
experience  in  beet  fields  affected  with  alkali  is  soon  impressed  with  the 
fact  that  there  seems  to  be  individual  beets  much  more  alkali  resistant 
than  those  immediately  surrounding.  Here  and  there  one  finds  indi- 
vidual beets,  in  the  midst  of  other  beets  badly  "alkalied,"  making  a 
strong  and  healthy  growth  and  carrying  a  good  per  cent  of  sugar  and 
purity,  and  maintaining  a  good  form  of  the  beet,  viz.,  a  long,  straight 
and  symmetrical  root.  That  such  a  form  is  unusual  for  beets  grown 
under  these  conditions,  is  clearly  shown  in  the  illustrations  of  beets 
taken  as  typical  of  the  alkalied  fields  here  studied. 

Below  is  shown  the  alkali-content,  to  a  depth  of  two  feet,  of  the 
exact  spot  in  which  these  beets  were  growing,  and  also  the  sugar-content 
of  the  beet  in  each  case. 

TABLE  VII. 


Percentage  in  Soil. 

Pounds  per  Acre. 

Depth— 2  ft. 

GO 

0 

P 
11 

co 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate) 

Chlorids     (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid)..-. 

o 
p 

> 

P 

*—* 

cc 

p" 
a> 

co 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids     (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid)..*.. 

o 

c-t- 

p 

> 

P 

IV— 1 

.1536 

.2986 
.0920 

trace 

.0097 
.0042 

.0920 
.1277 

.1278 

.2456 
.4360 
.2240 

12,320 

23,840 

7,360 

trace 

800 
320 

7,360 
10,240 
10,240 

19,680 
34,880 
17,920 

IV— 3 

IV— 4 

Other  illustrations  of  the  same  thing  are  shown  in  the  following  table, 
the  beets  from  which  are  shown  in  Fig.  19: 

TABLE  VIII. 


Percentage  in  Soil. 

Pounds  per  Acre. 

Depth. 

pi 
*—* 

p 

CO 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids     (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

i-3 

o 

P 

P 

CO 

pi 

1 — I 

p 

r+ 

<D 
CO 

1 

Carbonates  (as 
Sodium  Car- 
bonate)  

Chlorids     (as 
Sodium 
Chlorid) 

o 

P 

> 

P 

.-• 
t 

X— 5. 

First  foot 

Second  foot 

.0688 
.0511 

.0025 
.0050 

.0326 
.1118 

.1039 
.1679 

2,760 
2,040 

4,800 

120 
200 

1,320 

4,480 

4,200 
6,720 

.0722 

Average  and  total- ._ 

.0600 

.0037 

.1359 

320 

5,800 

10,920 

TOLERANCE  OF  THE  SUGAR  BEET  FOR  ALKALI. 


29 


The  occurrence  of  so  typical  beets  growing  under  such  adverse  con- 
ditions, and  the  development  of  the  beet  to  such  a  high  state  by  the 
process  of  continued  selection,  suggests  the  possibility  of  producing  by 
the  same  methods  a  type  of  beet  which  shall  be  much  more  alkali 
resistant  than  those  now  being  grown  in  this  country,  the  seed  of  which 
has  been  produced  under  the  very  best  of  conditions  in  alkali-free  soil 
in  Europe.  Such  a  beet  would  meet  a  need  which  is  now  very  apparent 
in  the  irrigated  regions  of  America,  and  would  be  a  decided  factor  in 
aiding  to  place  the  agricultural  side  of  the  industry  on  a  firmer  footing 


Fig.  20.    Selected  beets  from  strong  alkali  soils. 

than  is  now  the  case.  The  most  difficult  thing  now  appears  to  be  to 
induce  the  farmer  to  so  conduct  his  agricultural  operations,  especially 
as  to  the  selection  and  preparation  of  the  soil,  as  to  secure  such  a  yield 
per  acre  as  to  make  the  industry  continually  inviting,  and  in  those 
regions  where  alkali  is  prevalent  in  the  soil  it  is  one  of  the  greatest  obsta- 
cles to  overcome.  Further,  the  development  of  a  more  alkali-resistant 
beet  would  make  it  possible  to  considerably  extend  the  area  now  avail- 
able, and  bring  under  cultivation  to  a  generally  profitable  yield  a  large 
amount  of  land  for  which  it  is  now  difficult  to  find  satisfactory  crops. 

Note. — It  is  desired  hereby  to  express  thanks  to  the  American  Beet 
Sugar  Company,  who  assisted  in  this  work  by  allowing  the  use  of  their 
laboratory;  to  Mr.  C.  L.  Colvin,  chemist  of  the  above-named  company, 
for  courtesies  received;  and  also  to  Mr.  Frank  D.  Merrill,  who  assisted 
in  certain  of  the  analytical  work. 


CALIFORNIA  PUBLICATIONS  AVAILABLE  FOR  DISTRIBUTION. 


REPORTS. 

1896.  Report    of    the    Viticultural    Work    during    the    seasons    1887-93,    with    data 

regarding  the  Vintages  of  1894-95. 

1897.  Resistant    Vines,    their    Selection,   Adaptation,    and    Grafting.      Appendix    to 

Viticultural  Report  for  1896. 

1898.  Partial  Report  of  Work  of  Agricultural  Experiment   Station  for  the  years 

1895-96  and  1896-97. 
1900.     Report  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  for  the  year  1897-98. 

1902.  Report  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  for  1898-1901. 

1903.  Report  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  for  1901-1903. 

1904.  Twenty-second  Report  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  for  1903-1904. 

BULLETINS. 

Reprint.  Endurance  of  Drought  in  Soils  of  the  Arid  Region. 

No.  129.  Report  of  the  Condition  of  Olive  Culture  in  California. 

•131.  The  Phylloxera  of  the  Vine. 

132.  Feeding  of  Farm  Animals. 

133.  Tolerance   of  Alkali   by   Various   Cultures. 
135.  The  Potato- Worm  in  California. 

137.  Pickling  Ripe  and  Green  Olives. 

138.  Citrus  Fruit  Culture. 

139.  Orange  and  Lemon  Rot. 

140.  Lands  of  the  Colorado  Delta  in  Salton  Basin,  and  Supplement. 

141.  Deciduous  Fruits  at  Paso  Robles. 

142.  Grasshoppers  in   California. 

143.  California    Peach-Tree    Borer. 

144.  The  Peach-Worm. 

145.  The  Red  Spider  of  Citrus  Trees. 

146.  New   Methods   of  Grafting  and   Budding   Vines. 

147.  Culture  Work  of  the  Substations. 

148.  Resistant  Vines  and  their  Hybrids. 

149.  California   Sugar   Industry. 

150.  The  Value  of  Oak  Leaves  for  Forage. 

151.  Arsenical  Insecticides. 

152.  Fumigation  Dosage. 

153.  Spraying  with  Distillates. 

154.  Sulfur  Sprays  for  Red  Spider. 

155.  Directions  for  Spraying  for  the  Codling-Moth. 

156.  Fowl   Cholera. 

157.  Commercial   Fertilizers. 

158.  California  Olive  Oil ;  its  Manufacture. 

159.  Contribution  to  the  Study  of  Fermentation. 

160.  The  Hop  Aphis. 

161.  Tuberculosis   in   Fowls. 

162.  Commercial  Fertilizers. 

163.  Pear   Scab. 

164.  Poultry  Feeding  and  Proprietary  Foods. 

165.  Asparagus  and  Asparagus  Rust  in  California. 

166.  Spraying  for  Scale  Insects. 

167.  Manufacture  of  Dry  Wines  in  Hot  Countries. 


■ 


168.     Observations  on  Some  Vine  Diseases. 

CIRCULARS. 

No.  1.     Texas   Fever.                                         No.  10.  Reading     Course     in     Economic 

2.  Blackleg.  Entomology. 

3.  Hog  Cholera.                                                 11.  Fumigation   Practice. 

4.  Anthrax.                                                          12.  Silk   Culture. 

5.  Contagious  Abortion  in   Cows.                 13.  The  Culture  of  the  Sugar  Beet. 

6.  Methods  of  Physical   and  Chem-             14.  Practical    Suggestions    for   Cod- 

ical   Soil  Analysis.  ling-Moth      Control      in      the 

7.  Remedies   for   Insects.  Pajaro  Valley. 
9.     Asparagus  Rust. 

Copies  may  be  had  by  application  to  the  Director  of  the  Experiment 
Station,  Berkeley,  California. 


